Chude Jideonwo

EARLY LIFE

Ifechukwude Osanedum "Chude" Jideonwo was born on March 16, 1985, in Lagos, Nigeria, to Ifeanyi S. Jideonwo and Ngozi A. Jideonwo. He completed primary education at K. Kotun Memorial Primary School and secondary education at Adebola Baptist High School and Mayflower School in Ikenne. He studied law at the University of Lagos, graduating as the best student in Land Law and called to the Nigerian Bar in November 2007. He later earned a Master's degree in media and communications from Pan-Atlantic University (formerly Pan-African University) and pursued additional studies at institutions including the University of Oxford, Strathmore Business School, Lagos Business School, and Said Business School. His media career began early as a TV presenter on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and researcher for shows like Inside Out with Agatha

PERSONAL LIFE

In recent interviews around his 40th birthday in 2025, he has shared that he no longer feels a desperate urge to marry, focusing instead on personal growth, mental health, and his mission-driven work. His book How Depression Saved My Life reflects personal experiences with mental health and resilience.

CAREER

Chude Jideonwo is a prominent Nigerian media entrepreneur, television host, filmmaker, author, and investor with a 25-year career spanning advertising, public relations, television, radio, film, print, and digital media. He co-founded RED | For Africa (formerly RED Media Africa) with Adebola Williams, serving as CEO for a decade until 2016; the company led influential campaigns, including for Nigerian and Ghanaian presidents. RED's brands include The Future Awards Africa, YNaija.com, and StateCraft Inc. He also co-founded Joy, Inc., and is a co-founder of The Future Project. He is the executive producer and host of #WithChude and director of #ChudeExplains, a series of films focused on social justice and culture. In 2023, he was appointed board chair of The Initiative for Equal Rights (TIERs), and he holds board roles with organizations like Microsoft and the Ford Foundation. In 2024, he became Creative-In-Residence at the London School of Economics.

Chude Jideonwo has received numerous accolades, including Forbes 30 Under 30 (2013), CNBC Young Business Leader of the Year, Archbishop Desmond Tutu Fellowship (2018), Yale Greenberg World Fellow (2017), and Creative-In-Residence at the London School of Economics (2024, leading to the endowed Chude Jideonwo Prize for Creativity). Recent honors include Pulse Influencer Awards (2023), Trendupp nominations (2025), and board roles with organizations like Microsoft, the Ford Foundation, and The Initiative for Equal Rights (chair since 2023).